Why do people hate the Proud of your Honor Student for Bumper Stickers?

[Family Fun Mom]

I think for me the difference would be what my kids see. We have too many special snowflakes who think the world revolves around them. The mommy and me generation is now hitting the workforce and all that extra attention and praise is showing, and not in a good way. I'm not blaming the bumper stickers for it, but I'm blaming the attitude that goes along with it. The "Everyone, look how great my kid is!" attitude. You, as an adult, may see it as just a bumper sticker. Kids see stuff like this differently. Kids naturally see the world as revolving around them, and it's my job as a parent to help them see they are just one in a very big world. This one is very important to me, and a select few other relatives and friends, but to the rest of the world - not so much. I want to validate and celebrate my kids achievements - but not too much. I don't think that's healthy.

I may have one of those stickers for my car, but I actually agree with you 100%. Very well said.

 

[SaraJayne]

I think for me the difference would be what my kids see. We have too many special snowflakes who think the world revolves around them. The mommy and me generation is now hitting the workforce and all that extra attention and praise is showing, and not in a good way. I'm not blaming the bumper stickers for it, but I'm blaming the attitude that goes along with it. The "Everyone, look how great my kid is!" attitude. You, as an adult, may see it as just a bumper sticker. Kids see stuff like this differently. Kids naturally see the world as revolving around them, and it's my job as a parent to help them see they are just one in a very big world. This one is very important to me, and a select few other relatives and friends, but to the rest of the world - not so much. I want to validate and celebrate my kids achievements - but not too much. I don't think that's healthy.

You've pretty much summed up my thoughts.

 

[LisaR]

Yeah, in response to that poster, I was thinking I should get a bumper sticker that reads "My learning disabled student has a higher IQ than your honor student:rotfl:". Like I said earlier, I made honor roll almost my whole school career and didn't even study. For many kids, it's just a matter of them having the right type of intelligence, and that intelligence isn't always across the board. I know quite a few honor roll students who have no common sense whatsoever. My son makes decent grades, but his social skills are amazing, and he is so intuitive, it sometimes scares me. I know he will go far in life, because his intelligence is across the board, and I don't need a bumper sticker to let people know I am proud of him. If someone else needs one, that's their prerogative. I don't HATE them,as the title says, but I find them annoying.

I'm curious if those that love the honor roll bumper stickers also think it would be a good idea to have bumper stickers that tell the child's IQ? Is that any different?

 

[North of Mouse]

I think for me the difference would be what my kids see. We have too many special snowflakes who think the world revolves around them. The mommy and me generation is now hitting the workforce and all that extra attention and praise is showing, and not in a good way. I'm not blaming the bumper stickers for it, but I'm blaming the attitude that goes along with it. The "Everyone, look how great my kid is!" attitude. You, as an adult, may see it as just a bumper sticker. Kids see stuff like this differently. Kids naturally see the world as revolving around them, and it's my job as a parent to help them see they are just one in a very big world. This one is very important to me, and a select few other relatives and friends, but to the rest of the world - not so much. I want to validate and celebrate my kids achievements - but not too much. I don't think that's healthy.

 

[jrmasm]

I may have one of those stickers for my car, but I actually agree with you 100%. Very well said.

Aren't you the poster that wears the buttons with your kid's picture and t shirts that say kid's name's mom?

If so, I'm confused by how you could agree with Acklander. How are wearing buttons etc and this statement "Kids naturally see the world as revolving around them, and it's my job as a parent to help them see they are just one in a very big world. " not in total conflict?

 

[Family Fun Mom]

Aren't you the poster that wears the buttons with your kid's picture and t shirts that say kid's name's mom?

If so, I'm confused by how you could agree with Acklander. How are wearing buttons etc and this statement "Kids naturally see the world as revolving around them, and it's my job as a parent to help them see they are just one in a very big world. " not in total conflict?

I suppose you'd have to know me (and my kids) to understand. Showing team spirit and cheering on kids at their sporting events does not mean they are overprotected snowflakes or that I'm one of those "trophies for everyone, even last place, because my kids walk on water" people.

I happily celebrate my kids' accomplishments but I don't throw a party over everything they do.

Before this thread I really never put any thought into the stupid bumper sticker whatsoever. My kid made the Honor Roll, I was thrilled with it, the school sent me the thing (it's actually a window cling, but whatever,) I stuck on the back window, and that's all she wrote. Only on the DIS would that turn into a 12 page discussion!

 

[dngnb8]

I think for me the difference would be what my kids see. We have too many special snowflakes who think the world revolves around them. The mommy and me generation is now hitting the workforce and all that extra attention and praise is showing, and not in a good way. I'm not blaming the bumper stickers for it, but I'm blaming the attitude that goes along with it. The "Everyone, look how great my kid is!" attitude. You, as an adult, may see it as just a bumper sticker. Kids see stuff like this differently. Kids naturally see the world as revolving around them, and it's my job as a parent to help them see they are just one in a very big world. This one is very important to me, and a select few other relatives and friends, but to the rest of the world - not so much. I want to validate and celebrate my kids achievements - but not too much. I don't think that's healthy.

I agree with what youre saying. I remember when D14 played Pee Wee League. In each inning, hitters never got out. All 9 batted. All 9 got on, even if the defense got them out.

Kids arent taught how to handle failure. They arent taught how to be a good loser. Without doing this, they will have feel entitled. Additionally, kids dont have to work for much today. Even the game they play give instant gratification with little effort.

My friend calls them the Microwave Generation. Everything done in 2 minutes. I call them the Instant Gratification Generation.

Either way, they are in for a rude awakening when they hit the workforce.

 

[jc040404]

I agree with what youre saying. I remember when D14 played Pee Wee League. In each inning, hitters never got out. All 9 batted. All 9 got on, even if the defense got them out.

Kids arent taught how to handle failure. They arent taught how to be a good loser. Without doing this, they will have feel entitled. Additionally, kids dont have to work for much today. Even the game they play give instant gratification with little effort.

My friend calls them the Microwave Generation. Everything done in 2 minutes. I call them the Instant Gratification Generation.

Either way, they are in for a rude awakening when they hit the workforce.

How does this relate to the bumper sticker though? Not every child is given a sticker, so it's hardly the same to me. None of us know how hard a particular child may have worked to earn that sticker either. Honor roll doesn't seem like a big accomplishment to most on here, but that isn't so for every nine year old out there. (random age.. I don't remember when honor roll starts!) It very well could be a HUGE deal to the child in that car, and he/she deserves to be proud of it. Imagine night after night of studying at the dining table. Think of struggle after struggle, as he tries his hardest to reach this goal. Then imagine that child, his eyes filled with pride, holding that silly sticker out to Mom. I'd hope she'd put it on the car!

Maybe that sticker could be a moment for a non-honor child to learn that we can't all have a silly sticker, too. Should we hide the fact that some kids just do better in school, so we don't offend him? Maybe it might inspire that child to study more.

I'm sure most are probably mommy bragging or a parent who didn't put any thought into at all, but I don't think they're as bad as most are making it out to be. I get and agree with the "snowflake" comments, but I don't think it really applies to the honor sticker unless Mom is hopping out of the car to point it out at every intersection. A bumper sticker doesn't mean a child's every life second is being celebrated.

That said, should my boys ever bring one home, it'll probably end up in a scrapbook instead of on the bumper. However, until the FL sun destroyed it, I did have a USMC emblem on my car. DH's oldest son is a marine and my husband was quite proud of it. Do others find this offensive? (Beyond the protesters that got a little nuts at an intersection that day.. ) It's the same idea that is being complained about here, pure pride in your child's accomplishments..

 

[Mkrop]

How does this relate to the bumper sticker though? Not every child is given a sticker, so it's hardly the same to me. None of us know how hard a particular child may have worked to earn that sticker either. Honor roll doesn't seem like a big accomplishment to most on here, but that isn't so for every nine year old out there. (random age.. I don't remember when honor roll starts!) It very well could be a HUGE deal to the child in that car, and he/she deserves to be proud of it. Imagine night after night of studying at the dining table. Think of struggle after struggle, as he tries his hardest to reach this goal. Then imagine that child, his eyes filled with pride, holding that silly sticker out to Mom. I'd hope she'd put it on the car!

Maybe that sticker could be a moment for a non-honor child to learn that we can't all have a silly sticker, too. Should we hide the fact that some kids just do better in school, so we don't offend him? Maybe it might inspire that child to study more.

I'm sure most are probably mommy bragging or a parent who didn't put any thought into at all, but I don't think they're as bad as most are making it out to be. I get and agree with the "snowflake" comments, but I don't think it really applies to the honor sticker unless Mom is hopping out of the car to point it out at every intersection. A bumper sticker doesn't mean a child's every life second is being celebrated.

That said, should my boys ever bring one home, it'll probably end up in a scrapbook instead of on the bumper. However, until the FL sun destroyed it, I did have a USMC emblem on my car. DH's oldest son is a marine and my husband was quite proud of it. Do others find this offensive? (Beyond the protesters that got a little nuts at an intersection that day.. ) It's the same idea that is being complained about here, pure pride in your child's accomplishments..

Exactly the Honor Roll stickers are actually a real "trophy" for an accomplishment, not half the dribble that is given out to kids like participation trophies.

 

[jrmasm]

I suppose you'd have to know me (and my kids) to understand. Showing team spirit and cheering on kids at their sporting events does not mean they are overprotected snowflakes or that I'm one of those "trophies for everyone, even last place, because my kids walk on water" people. I happily celebrate my kids' accomplishments but I don't throw a party over everything they do.

Before this thread I really never put any thought into the stupid bumper sticker whatsoever. My kid made the Honor Roll, I was thrilled with it, the school sent me the thing (it's actually a window cling, but whatever,) I stuck on the back window, and that's all she wrote. Only on the DIS would that turn into a 12 page discussion!

Well if I see someone covered in buttons with their children's pictures and t shirts that proclaim "XXX's mom" I'm going to assume differently.

Exactly the Honor Roll stickers are actually a real "trophy" for an accomplishment, not half the dribble that is given out to kids like participation trophies.

I have never seen a trophy in the back windshield of a car or taped to a bumper.

 

[Jennasis]

Exactly the Honor Roll stickers are actually a real "trophy" for an accomplishment, not half the dribble that is given out to kids like participation trophies.

Perhaps...a trophy for the parent though.

 

[Mkrop]

Perhaps...a trophy for the parent though.

I still dont see it that way, the people who have said they have these bumper stickers (we dont at our school) have said that they put it on their car bc their kids were so super proud of the accomplishemnt and being awarded the sticker. They said Junior brought it home and asked Mom/Dad to put it on the car. So it is a "trophy" for the kid in my eyes!

 

[Family Fun Mom]

Well if I see someone covered in buttons with their children's pictures and t shirts that proclaim "XXX's mom" I'm going to assume differently.



I have never seen a trophy in the back windshield of a car or taped to a bumper.

Well, it's a good thing I don't really care about other people's assumptions. You know what they say about those who assume...

 

[jrmasm]

Well, it's a good thing I don't really care about other people's assumptions. You know what they say about those who assume...

Yup that they think people who plaster themselves in picture buttons etc are overly involved in their childrens' lives and are desperate for attention.

 

[DVC-Don]

I think I'll order one that says "proud parent of a cavity free child".

 

[Magic Mom]

 

[TomorrowlandFamily]

I like it when I see those bumper stickers. The parents are proud, so let them enjoy. If in the future my children are bothered by them (they're only little yet), then I'll tell them not to be jealous of other kids' accomplishments.

If my children get on the honor roll but their school doesn't give out bumper stickers, I'll tell them oh well, you're still on the honor roll and you did well!! No biggie.

 

[snowy76]

In our district, they did away with the merit roll - sort of. They changed the name to "honor roll" - I presume to make kids feel better that they "only" made merit. The old "honor roll" became the "high honor roll."

Now lots more parents can brag they have honor roll kids. To me, seeing one of those stickers means little because the school took the special distinction out of the term.

 

[Lucky4me]

Because people want everyone to know how smart their kid is.

I would never do that! You know, brag about my high honor roll for the past 10 quarters, AP class taking, regents with distinction and other assorted accomplishments, including a decent enough score on her sat to get into just about any college she wants, daughter! Never!!

 

[TomorrowlandFamily]

Because people want everyone to know how smart their kid is.

That's why the parents do it, but why do some people hate it? Isn't it such a silly thing to be bothered by?